Biography

Dr. Robert H. Bruininks is president emeritus of the University of Minnesota and a professor of educational and civic leadership at the University’s Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Both as a faculty member and as an administrator, Bruininks has worked to advance the public mission and responsibilities of the University. During his tenure as president, he and his leadership team undertook a transformative strategic positioning effort that has raised the University’s academic profile, its service to students and the community, and its stewardship of resources. Advances in academic quality and improvements in the student experience, such as expanded undergraduate research and study abroad opportunities and a campus-wide Honors Program for the Twin Cities campus, helped to fuel high student satisfaction rates, increased applications and enrollment,and significantly improved graduation rates. He remains a leading advocate for accountability and reform in higher education. From 2004-09, Bruininks served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and as board chair from 2008-09. Bruininks served as a member of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board from 2003-2009. Bruininks is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Society, and American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.